Compare towns
Gorham vs Bowdoinham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Bowdoinham has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gorham | Bowdoinham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
3,142Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
| Bowdoinham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$108,479±$21k 45% above ME |
$107,934±$14kLowest 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$405,500±$105k 37% above ME |
$388,900±$22kLowest 31% above ME |
| Gorham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #73 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.